Is it possible this is just because of how the scrolls fit in the ark? i.e. there is just no room to get the second one in there if the first one is in the way? (Personally I've never noticed any particular order of how they return them, but I'm planning on paying attention.)
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ArielFeb 24 '13 at 5:49

Agree with Ariel. It's a practical custom (as quite a few are). It could also be rationalized as giving equality in status to the Sifrei Torah - the second one isn't "second best" since it goes back first.
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EpicentreFeb 24 '13 at 7:15

My guess is that it's the same reason we take tefillin off in the opposite order we put it on. It doesn't degrade the first sefer to stay out longer - it's a kavod to it.
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Charles KoppelmanFeb 24 '13 at 18:42

I think the correct clall to apply is "Ain MaaVirin Al HaMitzvot" to since we are going to read from the first sefer torah first so that is the one we take hold of first. On the way back since Hagbah was done with the second sefer that is the one we return first as to put it aside in favor of the first sefer which would be embarrassing it.
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erammJan 20 '14 at 13:24

2 Answers
2

Since we are going to read from the first sefer torah first, that is the one we take hold of first. On the way back since Hagbah was done with the second Sefer that is the one we return first as in theory that is the one currently in the hand.